Strand pack despooler

ABSTRACT

Strand for use in forming concrete panels is typically supplied in a wound pack which may unravel improperly. The invention employs a despooler consisting of a base on which the strand is positioned. A central post with a rotating side bar is employed to despool the strand pack in a controlled manner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a despooler for unwinding a spool of metal rebar. Currently, very heavy spools of metal rebar or strand are used in concrete manufacture. The spools are typically bound with a lag wire to keep them in place during shipment. Usually the spool is pulled from the inside to the outside in the hopes of keeping the entire spool from unwinding which creates a very unwieldy problem.

The art described in this section is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention, unless specifically designated as such. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. § 1.56(a) exists.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a despooler for unspooling a pack of heavy wire strand such as is used in concrete manufacturing. The despooler includes a base that receives and supports a vertically oriented member which has an attached cantilever arm which may rotate freely about the base. A guide at the end of the cantilever arm receives strand that is resting in a spool on the base. A similar guide on the top of the vertical member allows the strand to be smoothly unspooled without tangling of the strand spool. This allows the spool to be unwound from the outside to the inside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the despooler of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an alternative guide tip to the vertical member;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spool of wire to be unwound;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the spool over the base with the upper post sections being positioned; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing strand being despooled using the inventive device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A shown in the figures, strand pack despooler 10 includes a base 12 and a removable, rotatable upright assembly 14 which includes an upright post 16 and a cantilevered arm 18. FIG. 2 shows a typical strand pack 20 which has a bitter end 22 shown. Typically, the strand pack is shipped held with binding material 24.

FIG. 4 shows the strand pack 20 positioned over base 12 with the upright assembly 14 being guided into socket 26 of the base 12. Once so positioned, the entire despooler 10 functions as shown in FIG. 5 with the bitter end 22 of the strand pack 20 passing through an eye ring 30 on arm 18 and up through an eye ring 32 on upright post 16. Pulling on the free bitter end 22 of the strand pack 20 once so arranged causes the cantilever arm 18 to rotate and despool the strand pack without tangling.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate eye ring post 34 to post 16 with a different orientation for guiding the strand away from the despooler 10. Although the figures show the base 12 constructed from welded channels 40, 42 and angled braces 44 to an upright tube 46 forming the socket 26, any suitable base to support the upright assembly may be employed. In fact, the upright tube 46 could be simply slipped into a socket formed in the ground base, such as by a slightly larger sized pipe encased in a concrete pad.

The connection between the base 12 and the upright post 16 may include bearings and other mechanisms known in the art to provide free rotation with less wear. It is also possible for the rotation of the cantilever arm 18 to be without rotation of the upright tube 46 by simply forming a rotational joint at the captured end of the cantilever arm to the upright tube. In such an embodiment, the eye ring 32 on post 16 should also be fixed to the post 16 to allow it to rotate. The invention is shown in a simple, cost effective form and may be readily modified to include grease fittings, bearings and the like or similar mechanisms known in the art to allow free rotation of the moving parts.

While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. The present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. 

1. A strand pack despooler for unspooling a wound pack of strand comprising: (a) a base support for carrying and holding an upright guide member in an upright position; (b) an upright guide member extending upwardly from said base support, said guide member having a lower end which is rotatably connected to said base support and an upper end constructed and arranged to include a strand guide; and (c) a cantilever arm member having a fixed end attached to said upright guide member intermediate said lower and upper ends, said cantilever arm member having a free end which includes a strand guide.
 2. The strand pack despooler of claim 1 wherein said strand guides are closed loops through which a free end of strand to be unspooled may be threaded.
 3. The strand pack despooler of claim 1 wherein said upright guide member is formed from a tube and said cantilever arm is a tube that is attached to said guide member tube.
 4. The strand pack despooler of claim 3 wherein said guide member tube and said cantilever arm tubes are welded together such that the cantilever arm extends outwardly generally horizontal to said base support member when said guide member tube is rotatably secured to said base support member.
 5. The strand pack despooler of claim 4 wherein said base support member includes an upright socket member into which said guide member tube may be inserted.
 6. A strand pack despooler for unspooling a wound pack of strand comprising: (a) a base support member constructed and arranged to provide a stable base point to which an upright guide member may be inserted; (b) an upright guide member constructed and arranged to include a lower end that may be secured into said base point and an upper end which includes a strand guide; (c) a cantilever arm extending outwardly from said guide member and having a free end that includes a strand guide.
 7. The strand pack despooler of claim 6 wherein said connection between said guide member and said stable base point provides for rotation of said guide member about said base point.
 8. The strand pack despooler of claim 6 wherein said cantilever arm is secured to said guide member such that it may rotate about said guide member, said guide member strand guide being rotatable relative to the guide member such that it may rotate in conjunction with rotation of said cantilever arm. 